Former Jasper County chairman Gregory charged with assault

Samuel Gregory, a Jasper County School District employee and former Jasper County Council chairman, was charged Friday with third-degree assault and battery related to an April 24 incident at Hardeeville-Ridgeland Middle School, according to the Hardeeville Police Department.

The incident was captured on video.

Gregory, 59, was released on a $1,092 personal recognizance bond and is not allowed to have contact with the child or child’s family.

Gregory works as a paraprofessional for the district’s in-school suspension program. According to the district, he’s worked with the district for more than 20 years in the same capacity. The district said it could not release Gregory’s salary because it does not meet the state’s $50,000 or more requirement for public release.

“After learning of the allegations, the district placed Mr. Gregory on paid administrative leave and is in the process of conducting a thorough investigation,” said Shellie Murdaugh, a school district spokesperson. “We are working to conclude the investigation as expeditiously as possible. In light of the confidentiality rights of employees, the district is not at liberty to offer further comment on this matter at this time.”

According to an arrest warrant, on April 24, Gregory grabbed a juvenile and wrestled the child in the middle school’s hallway.

The report said Gregory forced the child into another hallway and “became aggressive” when the child did not obey.

A teacher who witnessed the event wrote a statement that noted as Gregory held the child, he punched him in the stomach. That incident was not captured on video.

Officer Arnold Middleton said the child’s grandmother pursued an investigation. He said the school’s school-resource officer provided the Hardeeville Police Department with the video.

Middleton said the video shows the child walking past Gregory as Gregory attempts to talk with the child.

Gregory grabbed the child’s arm and Middleton said the child began to back away and went toward the other side of the hallway.

Middleton said Gregory then went to the child, grabbed him and wrestled with him.

According to the Middleton, after viewing the video footage, the charges were “more than justified.”

An investigation is ongoing.

Gregory recently served a four-year term on County Council and was elected county chairman in January 2012. He was defeated in last June’s Democratic primary runoff for the at-large seat.